Decreasing age at infection for homosexually acquired HIV in Italy: results of a back-calculation analysis.
The age-specific incidence of homosexually acquired HIV in Italy was examined, based on 3918 AIDS cases diagnosed by the end of 1994 and reported by the end of 1995 through the national surveillance system. Using a smoothed back-calculation analysis, the estimated median age at infection decreased over time, and HIV incidence among younger age groups peaked much later than among older age groups. These results support recent findings from other developed countries, and suggest that measures for preventing homosexual transmission of HIV are best targeted at younger age groups.
Marschner
I C
IC
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA. marsch@sdac.harvard.edu
Bosch
R J
RJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance